SGER: Exploratory Evaluation of Using Introductions of Mus to Experimentally Assess Factors Affecting Population Viability

9907567 Leberg该项目将评估将小鼠（Mus musculus）释放到路易斯安那州海岸外的“无小鼠”人造岛屿上的潜力，以测试有关圈养繁殖和近亲繁殖对自然条件下种群生存能力的影响的假设。 资金将用于建立圈养种群，评估遗传变异，确定哺乳动物和植被群落的特征，并评估近亲繁殖和圈养繁殖对释放个体生存的影响。许多哺乳动物物种被圈养，因为它们在野外的生存受到威胁，希望一旦在自然栖息地的生存条件变得更有利，可以使用圈养繁殖的个体重建野生种群。近亲繁殖和圈养繁殖对释放个体建立可行的野生种群的能力的影响一直受到相当大的关注。 在哺乳动物中，对圈养繁殖和近亲繁殖的影响的研究主要限于考察对圈养个体表现的影响。 这项探索性研究有可能开发一个Mus-island系统，用于研究圈养繁殖和近亲繁殖以及其他因素如何影响野生种群的命运。 从这项研究中获得的信息将有助于管理和恢复濒危和受威胁的哺乳动物。

9907567 Leberg This project will evaluate the potential for using releases of mice (Mus musculus) onto "mouse-free" man-made islands off the coast of Louisiana to test hypotheses concerning the effects of captive breeding and inbreeding on population viability under natural conditions. Funds will be used to establish a captive population, conduct assessments of genetic variation, characterize mammal and vegetation communities, and assess the effects of inbreeding and captive breeding on the survival of released individuals. Many species of mammals are being reared in captivity because their existence in the wild is threatened, in the hope that wild populations can be re-established using captive-bred individuals once conditions for survival in natural habitats become more favorable. There has been considerable concern about the effects of inbreeding and captive breeding on the ability of released individuals to establish viable wild populations. In mammals, studies of the effects of captive breeding and inbreeding have largely been limited to examining effects on the performance of individuals in captivity. This exploratory research has the potential for developing a Mus-island system useful for studying how captive breeding and inbreeding, as well as other factors, affect the fate of wild populations. Information resulting from this research will aid in the management and restoration of endangered and threatened mammals.